Chapter 508: I Left Something Behind

Prince Ning and his son sprang up together, speaking in unison: "What did you say?"

"Everyone's already at the Main Camp gate!"

Xiao Jieyun laughed angrily, his arms tightening, holding Tuan Tuan a bit tighter: "Good! Very good!"

"Usurping rebel, how dare you bring the imperial edict to my presence!"

He suppressed the surging anger in his chest: "Bring him in!"

Moments later, the tent flap was lifted.

A young man in scarlet official robes strode in, head held high, followed by two attendants holding yellow silk.

He scanned the people in the tent, neither bowing nor kneeling: "Which one is Feng Zhou, the officer? Come out to receive the edict."

Prince Ning snorted with laughter, jerking his chin at Xiao Er: "Go, call Feng Zhou. Let's hear what nonsense they're spouting."

Xiao Er turned and left the tent, soon returning with Feng Zhou in haste.

Feng Zhou looked bewildered, his gaze lifting to the scarlet robes, his steps pausing.

The Imperial Envoy unfurled the yellow silk in his hand, his voice booming: "By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor commands:"

"Former head of the Private Objects Workshop, Feng Zhou, skilled in craftsmanship, fit for great use, is hereby appointed Minister of Works, to return to the capital immediately to assume office—so ordered."

The tent fell silent.

The Imperial Envoy handed the edict to Feng Zhou, beaming: "Congratulations, Minister Feng, on your promotion!"

"As long as you accept the edict and return to the capital, the Private Objects Workshop remains under your charge, and so does the Ministry of Works. Holding both posts, you are the only one in our dynasty's history to do so."

Feng Zhou stood frozen, as if struck by lightning, unable to recover for a long moment.

The Imperial Envoy stepped forward, pressing the edict into his hand.

But Feng Zhou recoiled as if burned, stepping back two paces.

Xiao Yuanhang spoke slowly: "Where does this emperor in the capital come from?"

He fixed the Imperial Envoy with a stare: "You don't even have the Jade Seal—how can you forge an imperial edict?"

The Imperial Envoy turned to him, his smile undiminished: "Xiao Yuanhang, I hold a fourth‑rank post, while you have been reduced to commoner—how dare you question a court official?"

Xiao Yuanhang raised his eyebrows: "His Majesty is here; as Prince Ning, I have no need for you to interject!"

The Imperial Envoy gave a hollow smile: "That's wrong—the capital is the true seat of the state; your occupation of the Northwest makes you mere bandits."

He paused, his gaze landing on Xiao Jieyun's face: "Even if you held the Jade Seal, you'd eventually have to surrender it."

Xiao Jieyun's face turned ashen, his jaws clenched.

Tuan Tuan looked at him, then at his father, his little brows furrowing.

Feng Zhou finally came to his senses, face flushed, shouting: "I'd rather stay here as a common craftsman than return as Minister of Works! Let whoever wants the post take it!"

Tuan Tuan poked his head out of Xiao Jieyun's arms, thrusting a thumb up at Feng Zhou: "Feng Zhou, you're awesome!"

Xiao Ningxun suddenly spoke: "How do you know Feng Zhou is here?"

Feng Zhou shuddered all over.

"Exactly, how do they know I'm here?"

His mind flashed with the faces of the artisans from the Charitable Estate—had they been captured?

Feng Zhou stepped forward: "Who told you I'm here?"

The Imperial Envoy, unhurried, brushed dust from his cuff: "The Northwest truly is a barbaric backwater, incomparable to the capital!"

He lifted his eyes, giving a half‑smile toward Feng Zhou: "Minister Feng, I not only know you're here, I also know what you're doing now."

Everyone's expression changed.

Prince Ning and his son exchanged a quick glance, Xiao Er's hand resting on his sword hilt.

Everyone felt uneasy, wondering if they had already learned the capital's secret passages.

"That bastard's grin is truly ugly!"

"I don't believe you know everything!"

Tuan Tuan blinked his big eyes, asking crisply: "What is he doing? Tell me."

The Imperial Envoy curled his lip, blatantly staring at the baby seated in the Emperor's arms, and replied loudly: "He's making keys."

Everyone's hearts jolted even more.

"Keys! They actually know Feng Zhou is restoring those keys?"

"Oh." Tuan Tuan tilted his head: "What kind of keys?"

The Imperial Envoy's smile froze for a moment, and he licked his lips.

Tuan Tuan asked again: "What is that key made of?"

The corner of the Imperial Envoy's mouth twitched.

"Is it one key or a whole bunch?"

Sweat began to bead on the Imperial Envoy's forehead.

"What is that key used for?"

The Imperial Envoy opened his mouth, closed it, opened it again—his smile finally gave way.

"Well… that's naturally something only the masters know; how would I, a lowly official, know?"

Tuan Tuan looked at him innocently: "You don't know anything—why are you even here?"

"Pff—"

Feng Zhou couldn't hold back, letting out a muffled laugh.

Xiao Ningxun lowered his head, his shoulders trembling slightly.

Xiao Er pressed his lips tight, his grip on the sword hilt unsteady, trembling slightly.

Xiao Ningyuan turned away, raised a hand to rub his brow, yet the corner of his mouth kept turning up.

Xiao Ningchen looked coldly at the imperial envoy, as if looking at a dead person.

Xiao Jieyun lowered his head and gave Tuan Tuan a light kiss on the cheek.

The imperial envoy's face turned red like boiled shrimp, and beads of sweat slid down his cheek from his temples.

He thrust the imperial edict into Feng Zhou's bosom and said, "The edict has already been delivered; I cannot stay long, farewell!"

Feng Zhou, with great disdain, threw the edict onto the ground.

The imperial envoy glanced at the edict lying on the ground and said, "Secretary Feng, think carefully; wealth and honor are right before your eyes!" With that, he turned and left.

"Wait."

Xiao Yuanhang's voice rang out, halting the imperial envoy's steps in place.

The imperial envoy stiffened his neck and turned back, "Anything else?"

Xiao Yuanhang sat down slowly, looking at him lightly, "Since you've come, you must leave something before you go."

The imperial envoy's complexion changed, "What thing?"

Xiao Yuanhang glanced at his daughter, then looked at Xiao Ningchen and said casually, "Ningchen, you go."

Xiao Ningchen grinned, flashing a set of white teeth, "Alright."

He walked to the imperial envoy's side and said, "Fourth-rank official, please, I'll escort you."

"No need to be courteous…" The imperial envoy began to refuse, but Xiao Ningchen reached out, seized his wrist, force radiating from his fingertips, "Let's go."

A few of them walked out of the main tent.

Xiao Ningchen led them to a distance, raised his sword, and three corpses appeared on the ground.

"Hmph! Running to Xibei to flaunt your might? You've really lived enough."

He lowered his head, saw a few splatters of blood on the hem of his robe, frowned, "How annoying, I still have to go back and change clothes; don't scare Tuan Tuan." He lifted his leg and walked toward his own tent.

At the same time, in Jingcheng, Zichen Hall.

Qing Wang asked softly, "Supreme, why send people to Xibei to deliver the edict? They could never receive it."

Chen Wang, this time, also didn't understand, "Indeed, those who go may never return."

The Masked Man looked at them and said, "Prepare for Xiao Yuanhang's troops to be at the city gates."

"It's already been delayed too long; we can't continue like this. The longer we delay, the more thorough their defenses become."

"The realm, after all, is taken by force."

Chen Wang and Qing Wang exchanged a glance, suddenly realizing, "Yes!"

The Masked Man turned and walked outward, "That imperial envoy didn't die in vain; I left something on his body."